Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team jumped out to a 22-point first half lead and held on for its ninth straight win Saturday afternoon with a 73-65 victory over St. Francis (N.Y.) at Peter Aquilone Court.
The Colonials, who also notched their eighth straight road win, improved to 21-6 overall and 12-2 in Northeast Conference play, while the Terriers fell to 5-21 and 2-13 in league action.
RMU got off to a great start thanks to some solid shooting from beyond the arc, as sophomore guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) hit a pair from long range and junior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) added another as the Colonials opened up a 14-2 lead less than three minutes into the contest.
Sophomore guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) gave Robert Morris a 16-2 lead with a jumper, and the advantage swelled to 20-2 when freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) scored a fastbreak layup with 11:53 to go in the first half.
Langhurst's third three-pointer of the half gave RMU its biggest lead of the game, 29-7, at the 7:40 mark of the first half, but the Terriers responded with a 15-6 surge to close their deficit to 13 at halftime, 35-22. Jamaal Womack scored five points during the run for St. Francis (N.Y.), while Robert Hines added four points.
The momentum carried into the second half for the Terriers, as a 12-6 spurt out of the break helped St. Francis (N.Y.) close to within 41-34. Hines scored six points to bolster the Terriers, while Kayode Ayeni scored four points. Robert Morris suffered from unforced errors, committing 14 turnovers in the second half.
Senior forward A.J. Jackson (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) helped RMU stop the bleeding with a three-pointer to push the Colonials back to a double-digit lead, 44-34, and baskets from junior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) and Nwigwe kept Robert Morris in front, 50-39, with 10:22 to play.
However, the Terriers scored seven straight points to close the gap to 50-46 with 9:02 remaining. Hines converted a three-point play, while Ricky Cadell and Womack each hit buckets.
RMU responded with a 10-4 surge to get its lead back to double digits, 60-50, with 7:03 to go. Francisco hit a runner in the lane, while senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) converted a three-point play and Chappell drained a three-pointer.
Lee's three-pointer with 4:31 remaining gave the Colonials a 65-54 edge, and Langhurst hit four free throws in the final 3:08 to help seal the victory.
Lee paced Robert Morris with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and also added eight rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Jackson finished with 16 points and Langhurst 15.
Hines led all scorers in the game with 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting and also recorded seven caroms, while Womack finished with 10 points. Ayeni took home game-high honors in rebounds with 13.
The Colonials now return home to the Charles L. Sewall Center for a two-game homestand, welcoming Mount St. Mary's Thursday, Feb. 21, for a 7:00 p.m. tilt.
